Adjustable support bracket for curtain rods and the like



sept. 17, 19'63 F. F. sALzMANN 3,104,086

ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT BRACKET FOR CURTAIN RODS AND THE LIKE Filed July 14, 1961 United States Patent 3,104,086 ADJUSTABLE SUPPRT BRACKET FOR CURTAIN RODS AND THE LIKE Ferdinand F. Salzmann, Madison, Wis., assigner to Graber Manufacturing Company, Inc., Middleton, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed July 14, 1961, Ser. No. 124,174 6 Ciaims. (ci. 24S- 252) This invention relates to brackets for supporting curtain or drapery rods and the like.

Various important objects of this invention are .to provide a bracket for supporting drapery or curtain rods, which bracket has an adjustable base that is substantially universally adaptable for mounting on dilferent supporting surfaces such as the wall or Window trim; adjacent a window opening; which base can be mounted [on either or both the side and topl rails of the window trim, and which bracket is adaptable 4for use on narrow as well as relatively wide window trim.

A more particular object of this invention is to provide a bracket for supporting cur-tain or drapery rods, and which includes an adjustable base havin-g upper and lower bracket members each for-med Iwith a mounting ilange at one end yfor yattachment to a supporting surface such as a wall or the window trim around a window, and which bracket members are pivotally interconnected for relative movement about an axis transverse to a plane through the mounting lian-ges to enable the relative spacing and relative angular position of the mounting flanges to be selectively varied, for attachment on narrow or wide window trim or on the corners `of the window trim.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a bracket for supporting drapery and curtain rods, and which can be folded to `a compact assembly to enable packaging of the 'brackets and rod in a relatively small size container.

These, together with various ancillary objects and advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in connection ywith the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGS. la and lb are fragmentary perspective views illustrating the bracket of the present invention mounted in different positions and a window casing;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the support bracket;

FIG. 3 is a front view taken on the plane 3 3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a side View of the -bracket in a folded position for packaging in a container.

The rod bracket of the present invention is `gene-rally adapted for supporting curtain or drapery rods and is herein shown in conjunction with a rod having a generally D-'shaped cross-section to provide a rounded front similar tothe so-called Cafe curtain rods. The rod brackets are provided yfor supporting the rods at or near the ends thereof and, in accordance with the present invention, the brackets have an adjustable base and include lirst `and second bracket members designated 11 and 12 respectively which `are angularly adjustable relative vto each other about an axis extending transverse to the plane of the support surface to adapt the bracket for mounting on different support surfaces and at different positions thereon.

Tahe bracket member l1J. -is conveniently fonmed of strip stock and includes a strap like body portion 13 having a laterally extending mounting fla-nge 14 adjacent the rear end thereof and a transversely extending .front ange 15 adjacent its forward end. As will be noted, the -ange 14 extends laterally of one side of the body portion 13 `and the front flange 15 extend-s laterally from ididl Patented Sept. 17, 1963 the other side thereof. The mounting ange 14 preferably extends at substantially right angles to the body portion of the bracket member 11 so that the body portion extends generally horizontally when the mounting llange is -attached to an upright supporting surface. The

bracket member 12 is also preferably formed of strap material and includes a generally straight body portion 18 having a mounting flange 19 at its rear end and a front flange 21 at its forward end. The anges 15 and '21 on the upper and lower bracket members 11 and 12 are disposed in overlapping relation and are pivotally interconnected as by a rivet 22 for relative pivotal movement about the axis of the rivet, and which axis extends transverse to the supporting surface, that is transverse to a plane through the mounting flanges 14 and 19 of the bracket member. It is advantageous to locate the pivot axis of the rivet 22, designated by the letter c in FIGS. 2 and 4, so that the pivot axis intersects the plane through the mounting lianges 14 and 1'9 approximately medially between the mounting anges. In the present bracket, the body portion 13 of the upper bracket member 11 must extend substantially horizontally to properly suppor-t the -rod hanger to be described hereinafter. As shown, the rivet is spaced below the body portion 13 of the upper bracket member a distance slightly less than one-half the spacing between the mounting lianges 14 and 19, and the front flange 15 is disposed at an angle of slightly greater than with respect to the body portion 13 so that the axis c of the rivet is inclined downwardly and rearwardly at a shallow angle and intersects the plane of the mounting flanges approximately medially therebetween. With this arrangement, the lower bracket member can be folded to underlie the upper bracket member as shown in FIG. 4 to provide a compact bracket assembly for packaging in a small size container. Obviously, a similar res-ult can be achieved by increasing the spacing between the rivet and the body portion 13 to at least yone-half the spacing between the mounting ilanges, and in that event, it is not necessary to incline the axis of the rivet as described. However, the illustrated arraugement'does help minimize the height of the front end of the bracket while permitting relatively wide spacing between the mount-ing flange for improved stability. As is clear-ly shown in FIG. 2, the body portion 18 of the lower bracket member `12 extends at an angle sub stantially ygreater than 90 relative to the front ange 15 so that the bracket member 12 diverges relative to the bracket member r11. Y

It Will thus be seen that the relative spacing and angular positions of the mounting anges 14 and 19 can be selectively altered to accommodate the different supporting surfaces. For example, in some installations, it is convenient to mount the front bracket on the side rail such as 28 of the window triin or casing, or on the wall alongside the side rail. In such installations, the bracket member-s can be -angularly adjusted so that the mounting flanges 14 and 1'9 are disposed one above the other as shown in FIGS. lb, '2 and FIG. 3. 'Fhe bracket members can be lfastened to the side rail or wall by conventional screws 25 and 26 and, when mounted in this manner, the bracket members are lir-mly held against relative turning. In other installations it may be desirable to mount the bracket at the corner of -the window trim as shown in FIG. la. or solely on the top piece of relatively narrow lwindow trim, as shown in phantom in FIG. 3. With the present adjustable bracket base, the lower bracket member `12 can be swung either to the left or to the right relative to the upper bracket member 11 to accommodate these different arrangements. As will be noted, the bracket member is adapted for use on either left hand or right hand corners land when lower bracket member is moved either to the left or to the right relative to the upper bracket member, the vertical spacing between the mounting flanges 14 and 19l is substantially less than when the mounting flanges are arranged one above the other, so that the bracket can be mounted on relatively narrow trim as shown in phantom in FIG. 3.

The drapery rod 10 is attached to the upper bracket member 1.1 by a rod hanger. As shown, the rod hanger includes an arm 31 slidably supported on `the body portion 13 of the upper bracket member for movement longitudinally thereof. The arm 31 has an elongated slot 32 therein and a headed fastener 33 extends through the slot and is threaded into the upper bracket member to selectively lock the arm in an adjusted position there along. A guide -nger 34 extends lupwardly yfrom the bracket member into the slot to guide the arm during adjustment along the bracket member. The arm extends forwardly of the bracket and is formed with a saddle 36 at its forward end for receiving the rod 10. A locating finger 37 (FIG. 2) projects upwardly from the saddle and through an opening 38 in the rod 10, to axially locate the rod and prevent shifting of the rod therealong. A screw or the like 39 is threaded into the saddle and engages the rod to prevent lifting of the rod from the socket.

From the foregoing it is thought that the operation and construction of the bracket will be readily understood. The lower bracket member can be swung from a position immediately belo-w the upper bracket, as shown in FIG. 1b, either to the lett or to the right to change the relative spacing and angularly positioning of the anges 14 and 19 and to thereby adapt the bracket for mounting on diierent supporting surfaces and at different positions thereon. Moreover, the lower -bracket member can also be folded as shown in FIG. 4 to underlie the upper bracket member and provide a compact bracket assembly. As will be noted, the overall width of the bracket assembly when folded as shown in FIG. 4 is substantially less than the width of the bracket when arranged as shown in FIG. 2. This arrangement thus markedly decreases the size of the container required to package the brackets.

I claim:

1. A curtain or drapery rod bracket comprising irst and second bracket members each having a rear mounting flange at the rear end for attachment to -an upright support such as a `window casing or wall, means pivotally interconnecting the 4forward ends of said. members for relative pivotal movement about an axis transverse to a plane through said mounting lianges and which intersects that plane at a point intermediate said mounting flanges to enable the mounting flange on one -bracket member to be moved to different angular positions relative to the mounting flange on the other bracket member whereby to adapt the bracket to different supports, and means on said other bracket member for 4attaching a curtain rod thereto.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pivot axis intersects the plane through said mounting tlanges at a point substantially medially therebetween -to permit one bracket member to be folded to a position closely underlying the other bracket member.

3. A curtain or drapery rod bracket comprising, fir-st and second bracket members each having a rear mounting flange at their rear ends for attachment to an upright support such as a window casing or wall, said bracket members each having a front flange at the forward ends thereof, said front anges being disposed in overlapping relation, a fastener extending through said front flanges and pivotally interconnecting said members for relative angular movement about an axis transverse to a plane through said mounting ilanges and which intersects that plane at a point intermediate said mounting anges to enable the mounting flange on one bracket member to be moved to diderent angular positions relative to the mounting iiange on the other bracket member whereby to adapt the bracket to different supports, and means on said other bracket member for attaching a curtain rod thereto.

4. A curtain or drapery rod bracket comprising, rst and second bracket members each having a rear mounting ange `at their rear ends for attachment to an upright support such as a window casing or wall, said bracket members each having a front ange at the forward ends thereof, said -front flanges being disposed in overlapping relation, a fastener extending through said front tlanges and pivotally interconnecting said members for relative angular movement about an axis transverse to a plane through said mounting ilanges and which intersects that plane at a point intermediate said mounting flanges to enable the mounting flange on one bracket member to be moved to different angular positions relative to the mounting ilange on the other bracket member whereby to adapt the bracket to different supports, a rod support arm mounted on said other bracket member and extending forwardly therefrom, and means on the yforward end of said arm for attaching a rod thereto.

5. A curtain or drapery rod bracket comprising, rst and second bracket members each in the form of an elongated strap and each having a mounting ange extending laterally of one side thereof adjacent their rear ends and a front iiange extending laterally of the other side thereof adjacent their forward ends, said front flanges being disposed in overlapping relation and a fastener extending through said front anges pivotally interconnecting said members for relative angular movement about an axis transverse to a plane through said mounting flanges and which intersects that plane at a point intermediate said mounting anges to thereby enable the mounting flange on one bracket member to be moved to different angular positions relative to the mounting iiange on the other bracket member, a rod support arm mounted on said other bracket `and extending forwardly therefrom, and means on said arm for attaching a curtain rod thereto.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said pivot axis intersects the plane through said mounting anges at a point substantially medially between said mounting ilanges to enable one bracket member to be folded to a position closely underlying the other bracket member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A CURTAIN OR DRAPERY ROD BRACKET COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND BRACKET MEMBERS EACH HAVING A REAR MOUNTING FLANGE AT THE REAR END FOR ATTACHMENT TO AN UPRIGHT SUPPORT SUCH AS A WINDOW CASING OR WALL, MEANS PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTING THE FORWARD ENDS OF SAID MEMBERS FOR RELATIVE PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS TRANSVERSE TO A PLANE THROUGH SAID MOUNTING FLANGES AND WHICH INTERSECTS THAT PLANE AT A POINT INTERMEDIATE SAID MOUNTING FLANGES TO ENABLE THE MOUNTING FLANGE ON ONE BRACKET MEMBER TO BE MOVED TO DIFFERENT ANGULAR POSITIONS RELATIVE TO THE MOUNTING FLANGE ON THE OTHER BRACKET MEMBER WHEREBY TO ADAPT THE BRACKET TO DIFFERENT SUPPORTS, AND MEANS ON SAID OTHER BRACKET MEMBER FOR ATTACHING A CURTAIN ROD THERETO. 